Chapter 37: Cracks in the Throne

The darkness settled in Jared's chest as he watched the torches flicker against the Midnight Moon compound's chilly stone walls.  Standing beside him, regal and unflinching, Lila gave orders to the warriors assembled before them.  Her voice was confident and smooth, like that of a queen giving orders to her subjects.  

However, Jared could only hear the quiet in between her sentences.  

The things she chose not to say.  

When Lila ordered more executions that morning, the warriors had moved uncomfortably.  Although they had obeyed her orders without question, Jared could see the doubt slowly poisoning their faces as they exchanged glances.  Even though Midnight Moon had always been cruel, this?  This was not a show of strength.  It was fear.  

Jared was aware that fear was the first thing that could shake a foundation.  

Lila tilted her head in his direction and whispered, "She came back."  "Exactly as I expected."  

Jared's jaw tightened.  Claire.  

She'd been obstinate all along, but going back to Midnight Moon?  After all?  That was Claire, and it was a careless move.  She never fulfilled expectations.  

"She's an idiot," Lila went on.  She stepped directly into our grasp.  You ought to feel thankful.  

Jared remained silent.  

Thank you.  

He felt uneasy when he heard that word.  

He may have been once.  He had once viewed Claire's defiance as treachery and her flight as cowardice.  But time had a cruel way of revealing what was beneath the layers of certainty.  

Beneath it all, Jared began to question whether he had been the idiot all along.  

"She is no longer significant," Lila remarked, looking at him.  "Our actual concern is Redwater.  Derek is more powerful than I thought he would be, and his impact is expanding.  

Jared looked into her piercing, calculating eyes, looking for any hint of doubt. He couldn't find any.  

Claire wasn't concerned about her.  She feared losing her composure.  

Jared let out a slow breath.  “What do you plan to do with her?”  

A slow smile curved Lila's lips.  "That depends."  

"On what?"  

"On you."  

Jared tensed.  Lila's eyes gleamed, knowing and predatory.  She moved in closer, tracing the buttons of his jacket with one finger.  

She muttered, "When it comes to her, you still hesitate."  "Jared, I see it."  

He took a deep swallow.  "She is a traitor."  

"Yeah," Lilavccliqh eased, "but she's also your partner."  

The words were unwelcome and sharp like a blade.  

For years, Jared had persuaded himself that his relationship with Claire was pointless.  That it had been right to turn her away.  But now that he was standing here with Lila, who was intelligent but unloyal, powerful but unkind, he questioned whether he had ruined something he was never supposed to lose.  

Despite the storm in his chest, he asked steadily, "Does it matter?"  

Lila looked at him, her face unreadable.  Then, her lips were inches from his ear as she leaned in.  

"It is only important if you make it important."  

Jared's breath was slow and deliberate as he clenched his fists.  

Claire was a vulnerability.  He had been telling himself that for years.  However, after seeing Lila, he questioned whether he had always misjudged his true weakness.  

As though dismissing the entire conversation, Lila turned away.  The council is anticipating action.  Redwater has turned out to be more dangerous than expected.  We have to attack first.  

Jared scowled.  "You mean a surprise attack."  

Lila grinned.  "Exactly."  

He paused.  "War is not necessary."  

Her eyes grew gloomy.  "Jared, war is already here.  Whether we win or lose is the only question.  

She was right, and Jared hated it.  Redwater had been becoming more powerful, and their influence was growing outside of their boundaries.  Claire had lived there. Flourished there.  That had significance.  

He considered his people, his pack.  They had followed him blindly once before.  Now, they followed Lila.  

To what extent, however, was that loyalty?  To what extent was it fear?  

“I’ll handle Claire myself,” he said finally.  

Lila's eyebrow went up.  "Will you?"  

"Yes."  He didn't flinch when he looked into her eyes.  "I don't require her death.  I need her to speak.  

After examining him for a while, Lila shrugged.  "Jared, do whatever you want with her.  However, don't fall into the trap of thinking she can be saved.  

Jared remained silent.  

Because, for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t sure what he believed anymore.  

---  

The smell of rusty chains and wet stone filled the dungeons.  With her back to the wall and her expression unreadable, Claire sat in the corner of her cell.  When Jared came in, she glanced up but remained motionless.  

"Come to gloat?" she said sardonically.  

Jared folded his arms.  "You ought not to have returned."  

Claire laughed and huffed.  "Jared, you've never understood me.  Why begin now?  

He clenched his jaw.  "I know more than you realise."  

"Do you?"  The woman cocked her head.  "So tell me, do you think Lila is genuinely acting in this way for Midnight Moon?"  

Jared paused.  Too much time.  

Claire's mouth formed a thin line.  She whispered, "She's taking advantage of you."  "Don't you know that?"  

He gave a sharp exhale.  "I am not in a position to question my alliances."  

Claire's eyes became piercing.  "You're a fool, then."  

Jared tensed.  "Watch what you say, Claire."  

"No."  Despite the chains around her wrists, she forced herself to stand and took a step closer.  "I've had enough of acting.  Because our pack was a family, Midnight Moon was once strong due to its unity.  Now it is a kingdom, and Lila is seated on a fear-based throne.  

Jared remained silent.  

Because he was already beginning to feel the truth of what she had said.  

Claire kept a close eye on him.  “You know she won’t let you rule, right?  Lila doesn’t share power.  She is merely using you as a tool to maintain control.  

With a chilly laugh, Jared laughed.  “And what do you suggest?  That I betray my group?  

Claire's eyes remained fixed.  "No.  Before it's too late, I'm telling you to save it.  

Her words weighed heavily on him, suffocating and indisputable.  

For years, Jared thought Claire had deceived him.  He wasn't entirely certain who the true traitor was now.  

However, before he could say anything, there was a commotion outside the dungeons, with shouts and the clang of weapons.  A warrior rushed in, his face white with urgency, and Jared turned abruptly towards the entranceThe panting warrior said.  

Redwater has crossed our boundary, "My Alpha."  

Jared's heart froze.